Lateral storage spool for overhead cable pathway

ABSTRACT

A system including an overhead cable pathway structure and a cable storage device that mounts overhead to the cable pathway structure. The cable storage device including a storage spool and a cable pathway exit having a curved surface that guides excess cable exiting from the overhead cable pathway structure to the spool.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 12/009,138,filed Jan. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,112, which claim thebenefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/881,414, filed Jan. 19,2007, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to methods and devices for use in thetelecommunications industry. More specifically, this disclosure relatesto methods and devices for use in managing and organizingtelecommunications cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the telecommunications industry, effective management andorganization of cables is necessary in light of the massive cablingschematics involved in providing telecommunication services.Telecommunication facilities, such as data centers or central offices,for example, often have rows of equipment racks and/or equipmentcabinets interconnected to cables routed overhead. The cablingschematics of such facilities involve dropping cables down from overheadcable pathways (e.g., troughs or ladders), terminating the cables totermination panels mounted on the racks or in the cabinets, and storingexcess cable slack about cable management devices (e.g., spools) mountedto the racks or cabinets.

Space to accommodate the increasing demand for telecommunicationservices is limited. Improvements are needed in the methods and devicesfor managing and organizing the systems, cabling schematics, andcomponents associated with providing telecommunication services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an overhead cable management systemincluding a cable storage device that mounts to an overhead cablepathway structure. The overhead arrangement of the cable storage deviceallots more space in telecommunications facilities for equipment racks,equipment cabinets, and telecommunication equipment.

A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are setforth in part in the description that follows, and in part will beapparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing variousaspects of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate toindividual features as well as combinations of features. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive ofthe claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a cable storagedevice mounted to an overhead cable pathway structure, in accordancewith the principles disclosed;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a telecommunications system, including thecable storage device of FIG. 1 (schematically represented), inaccordance with the principles disclosed;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of two cable storage devices of FIG.1, mounted to an overhead cable pathway structure; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a plurality of cable storage devices ofFIG. 1, mounted to an overhead cable pathway structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an overhead cable management system10 in accordance with the principles disclosed. The overhead cablemanagement system 10 is designed to manage and organize cables andrelated components to increase capacity in limited telecommunicationfacility space. The overhead cable management system 10 of the presentdisclosure generally includes a cable storage device 12 that mounts toan overhead cable pathway structure 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, in telecommunication facilities, such as datacenters or central offices, for example, overhead cable pathwaystructures 14 are hung above racks (e.g. 54), cabinets (e.g., 56),and/or other equipment enclosures or framework. The overhead cablepathway structures 14 carry cables 58 that interconnect to equipment 64mounted on the racks 54, for example. For purposes of simplification,the remaining description refers to the structure to which the equipment64 mounts as a “rack;” however, it is to be understood that the presentdisclose applies similarly to the other equipment structures (e.g.,cabinets and other enclosures or framework).

The “overhead” cable pathway structures are typically run “overhead,” asracks commonly have a height equivalent or greater than the height of atechnician. It is to be understood that “overhead” is not intended to belimiting to the height of technician, but rather means that the cablepathway structures are located a distance from the floor 66, typicallyoverhead, but more commonly above the structure to which the equipmentis mounted (e.g. the rack or cabinet). In the illustrated embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the overhead cable pathway structure is a U-shapedchannel or trough 16. In another embodiment, the overhead cable pathwaystructure can include a ladder-type structure. Other types of structuresthat carry cables overhead to and from racks or cabinets can be used inaccordance with the principles disclosed.

In utilizing the space above equipment racks for the “run” of cables, itcan be understood that cable pathway structure provides a generallyhorizontal run for the cables. That is, the cable pathway structures areconstructed such that the cables run more horizontally, than vertically,when carried by the cable pathway structure.

In conventional arrangements, cables carried by the overhead cablepathway structures are pulled down from the overhead structure andterminated to a termination panel mounted on the equipment racks.Termination panels are panels to which overhead cables are terminatedand generally include a number of adapters or connectors. Excess cableslack of the terminated cables is typically stored on spools that areattached to panels mounted on the racks or in the cabinets.

Referring still to FIG. 2, the overhead cable management system of thepresent disclosure improves upon the spatial utilization of racks andfacilities. That is, the overhead cable management system increasesservice capacity of a facility by providing cable storage at a locationother than the rack. Cable storage is instead provided in unoccupiedspace located above the racks. Valuable facility space can thereby beallocated for more racks, as opposed to being constrained by therequirement of cable storage.

In the illustrated system of FIG. 2, overhead termination panels (e.g.70, 72, 74) are mounted to the overhead cable pathway structure 14.Further details of the overhead termination panels are described in U.S.application Ser. No. 11/655,757; which application is incorporatedherein by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cable storage device 12(schematically represented in FIG. 2) of the present system 10 mounts tothe overhead pathway structure 14, as opposed to being mounted to a rack(e.g., 54). The cable storage device 12 includes at least one cablestorage spool 18 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the cablestorage device 12 includes two cable storage spools 18. Excess cableslack 60 of the cables 58 carried by the overhead cable pathwaystructure 14 are routed to the spool 18 of the device for storage.

The cable storage device 12 further includes a mounting bracket 20. Thecable storage spools 18 of the device 12 are releasably attached to themounting bracket 20. That is, the spools 18 can be detached from themounting bracket 20 so that excess cable slack (e.g., 60) can be wrappedabout the spools. Further details of a detachable spool that can be usedin the present system are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,374; whichpatent is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the cable storage spools 18 arereleasably attached to the mounting bracket 20 by a pin attachment 36.The pin attachment 36 permits the spools to pivot about an axis. Thepivoting arrangement allows a technician to separate the spools 18 (asshown in FIG. 1) to access an individual one of the spools, yet storethe spools in a compact manner (as shown in FIG. 3) to minimize thespace generally occupied by cable storage device 12.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the mounting bracket 20 of the cable storagedevice 12 includes first and second mounting structures 24, 26 thatdetachably secure or mount the device 12 at a selected location alongthe overhead cable pathway structure 14. Also, the mounting bracket 20is designed so that the cable storage device 12 can be selectivelymounted at one of many locations along the length of the overhead cablepathway structure 14; and can later be moved if needed. FIG. 4illustrates a number of cable storage devices 12 mounted at selectedlocations along the length of the overhead cable pathway structure 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the first mounting structure 24 of themounting bracket 20 includes a U-shaped construction 28 that engages orclamps onto a top edge 30 of the trough 16. The second mountingstructure 26 includes a lip or mounting ledge 32 that engages a shoulder34 formed in the trough 16. The U-shaped construction 28 and themounting ledge of the mounting bracket 20 permit the technician to mountthe cable storage device 12 in any desired position along the trough 16relative to the racks 54, as needed.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the mounting bracket 20 of the cable storagedevice 12 further includes a cable pathway exit 22. As shown in FIG. 4,the cable pathway exit 22 generally has an inner portion 50 and an outerportion 52. The inner portion 50 of the cable pathway exit 22 is locatedwithin a cable-carrying region 62 of the overhead cable pathwaystructure 14 when the device 12 is mounted to the structure 14. Theouter portion 52 of the cable pathway exit 22 is located outside of thecable-carrying region 62 when the device is mounted to the structure 14.

The cable-carrying region 62 is the region in which the cables 58(FIG. 1) lie or run when carried by the overhead cable pathway structure14. The cable-carrying region 62 of the U-shape trough 16, for example,is generally the volume of space defined by the U-shaped trough.Likewise, the cable-carrying region of a ladder-type structure isgenerally the region defined above the footprint of the ladderstructure. The cable storage spools 18 of the presently disclosed cablestorage device 12 are located outside of the cable-carrying region 62 ofthe overhead cable pathway structure; i.e., in an adjacent lateralregion 68 outside of the cable-carrying region 62.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the inner and outer portions 50, 52 of thecable pathway exit 22 are interconnected by a curved surface 42. Thecurved surface 42 guides the excess cable slack 60 exiting from theoverhead cable pathway structure 14 toward the spools 18. Preferably,the curved surface 42 has a radius that prevents the cable slack fromexceeding a minimum bend radius. The cable storage device 12 can furtherinclude fingers 46 to retain the cables that are exiting the overheadcable pathway structure 14. The fingers 46 aid to retain the excesscable slack 60 within the cable pathway exit 22, and on the curvedsurface 42 to prevent the cable slack from exceeding a minimum bendradius. In the illustrated embodiment, the fingers 46 are located atopposite edges of the curved surface 42 of the cable pathway exit 22.

The overhead pathway device 12 of the present disclosure minimizes theamount of rack space needed in a data center, central office, or othertelecommunications facility. Alternatively, the device allows forexpansion and/or upgrade of systems in facilities having spatialconstraints, and can be added without having to add racks or cabinets.The devices also are designed to be easily incorporated into existingsystems, i.e., mounted to exiting overhead troughs, for example, withoutincurring costs associated with replacing or upgrading existing overheadstructures.

In addition, the present device does not interfere with cooling pathwaysof existing systems. For instance, in conventional methods, expandingthe capacity of cabinets can require the installation of cable storagepanels and devices. The added panels and devices can block air flowneeded to cool the electrical components inside the cabinet. Because theoverhead cable storage device 12 of the present system is mountedoverhead, the device does not obstruct the air flow passages through thecabinet.

As can be understood, the disclosed panel arrangement can be adapted foruse in many cabling applications. For example, the cable storage devicecan be used for overhead storage of excess fiber optic cabling, excesscopper cabling, excess hybrid cabling, or excess cabling of both fiberoptic and copper cables.

The above specification provides a complete description of the presentinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, certain aspects ofthe invention reside in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. A method of storing cable slack, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing an overhead cable pathway structure that defines acable-carrying region in which cables run in a first direction, and acable storage device having a mounting bracket that defines a cablepathway exit and a plurality of cable storage spools mounted to themounting bracket, the cable pathway exit extending in a second directionthat is generally transverse to the first direction; b) mounting thecable storage device to the overhead cable pathway structure such thatan inner portion of the cable pathway exit is located inside thecable-carrying region, such that an outer portion of the cable pathwayexit is located outside the cable-carrying region, and such that thespools are located outside of the cable-carrying region; c) routingexcess cable slack from cables lying in the cable-carrying region of theoverhead cable pathway structure to a first of the cable storage spoolsmounted to the cable pathway structure through the cable pathway exit,the cable being retained within the cable pathway exit by a firstplurality of discrete fingers located along a first edge of the cablepathway exit and a second plurality of discrete fingers located along asecond edge of the cable pathway exit, the discrete fingers extendingalong a substantial majority of the length of the cable pathway exitsuch that at least a first finger of each plurality of discrete fingersis located on the inner portion of the cable pathway exit and at least asecond finger of each plurality of discrete fingers is located on theouter portion of the cable pathway exit; and d) wrapping the excesscable slack about the first cable storage spool such that the excesscable slack stored on the first cable storage spool is wrapped about thefirst cable storage spool in a plane that extends along the seconddirection and along a third direction that is transverse to the firstdirection and to the second direction; and (e) pivoting the first cablestorage spool along a pivot axis that extends along the third directionto provide access to a second one of the cable storage spools.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of mounting the cable storage deviceincludes detachably mounting the device to the overhead cable pathwaystructure at a selected location along the length of the overhead cablepathway structure.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step ofwrapping the excess cable slack about the cable storage spool includesfirst detaching the spool from the mounting bracket and then wrappingthe excess cable slack about the spool.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of providing the overhead cable pathway structureincludes providing a U-shaped cable trough, and wherein the step ofmounting the device includes mounting the device to the U-shaped cabletrough.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable storage spool is afirst cable storage spool, the step of providing including providing thecable storage device having only two spools, including the first cablestorage spool and a second storage spool.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the step of mounting includes mounting an arrangement of cablestorage devices to the overhead cable pathway structure, wherein eachcable storage device is spaced from an adjacent cable storage devicesuch that each spool of the arrangement is configured to be pivotallyseparated from adjacent spools without pivoting the adjacent spools.